Noord has been working on its own hospitality identity for a while now, and Restaurant Europa fits right in. Chef and entrepreneur Rein op ’t Root previously opened here Euro Pizza, and the success of that business gave him the space to give his fine-dining concept a new home. That new home is next to the pizza store itself, in an industrial space you won't soon forget.
The central element is a 25-meter-long zigzag bar that runs throughout the space. No tables, no chairs with railings appropriately spaced. Everyone sits at the bar, and the kitchen is not somewhere behind a door: the chefs are right in front of you. They prepare eight courses live, while you watch, smell and occasionally ask a question. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a chef's bar in Tokyo or San Sebastián, but in an old building in Buiksloterham.
Rein op ’t Root previously ran Restaurant Europa in Zaandam, at cultural center Het Hem. That concept lay dormant during the corona pandemic, after which he first launched Euro Pizza. However, he stayed true to the Europa name: he took it to Noord and built a new place around it. At his side is Perry de Man as host. De Man is also involved in the podcast and community around the restaurant, giving the whole thing something of a project bigger than just food.
The chefs are right in front of you, preparing eight courses live while you watch, smell and occasionally ask a question.
Capacity is strictly limited: a maximum of eighteen to twenty-six guests per session. This is a conscious choice. More guests means less contact between kitchen and table, and that contact is exactly the point here. Restaurant Europa is part of a small whole: in addition to the pizza store and the restaurant, Op ’t Root also has Benelux Bar in his portfolio. Three places, each with its own character, but with the same signature. For those who want to know what North has to offer in terms of serious food: this is a good start.